In Korea’s popular culture scene, Lee Youngji is a reputation now synonymous with vibrant and unfiltered leisure, finest seen by way of her viral Nothing A lot Ready YouTube collection, the place she shares drinks with members of Ok-pop supergroups like BTS, BLACKPINK and SEVENTEEN. Nevertheless, 2024 marks a major yr for the 21-year-old as she appears to return to her roots in music and highlight her expertise as a performer and musician. Even when many followers may acknowledge her first because the comedic pressure behind a few of Ok-pop’s most unforgettable interviews, Youngji’s journey in leisure started with music — and she or he’s decided to remind everybody of that on her ongoing world tour that hits the U.S. on the finish of August.
The discharge of her debut album, June’s 16 Fantasy, marked a daring assertion of her inventive identification and the promise proven for her musical future. The lead single, “Small Woman” that includes EXO’s D.O., not solely topped the charts in South Korea but in addition broke into the High 40 of the Billboard World 200. In the meantime, b-side cuts like Lee’s “ADHD Woman,” plus her hit collaborations with high acts like Dynamicduo and BSS, all show her versatility and skills to step up and degree up for every new tune launch.
“This yr is actually necessary for me musically,” Youngji displays throughout a night FaceTime name from Seoul forward of the U.S. leg of her tour. “I’ve had quite a lot of collaborations and I’ve a range present on my YouTube channel, so many individuals know me by way of numerous jobs…however I need to highlight my musician mode this yr.”
As she embarks on the U.S. leg of her All or Nothing World Tour, Lee Youngji is raring to attach with followers in a extra intimate setting, bringing not simply her music to the stage however the distinctive private vitality that’s made her such a breakout star among the many subsequent technology of Korean-pop entertainers.
“I are inclined to attempt to actually talk with the viewers, ask them questions, simply attempt to speak to them and I believe that U. S. followers are going to love that rather a lot,” she says, hinting on the interactive and private nature of her stage setup. The All or Nothing Tour is extra of an invite for followers to expertise Lee Youngji in her purest type as a musician and entertainer. And whereas she may not be capable to take pleasure in her well-known on-camera consuming together with her viewers — despite the fact that she tells Billboard that she actually desires to — she’s able to carry that very same spontaneous and real connection to each present.
Learn on for extra with Lee Youngji sharing about her Stateside tour, her large yr in music, recollections with some high Ok-pop stars and what’s coming subsequent.
Congratulations on all of the current successes, Youngji. There’s rather a lot to debate, but it surely’s been a extremely necessary yr for you as a musician. Is that this why you’re going in your first U.S. tour?
Such as you mentioned, this yr is actually necessary for me musically. I’ve had quite a lot of collaborations, and I’ve a range present on my YouTube channel, so many individuals know me by way of numerous jobs. First, they knew me as a YouTuber; then they could have identified me as a star pal; they knew me as all various kinds of issues, however I need to highlight my musician mode this yr. And gratefully, “Small Woman” had a terrific response and growth, even within the U.S., so I believed that this was a terrific alternative for me to be extra assured on what I’m doing proper now as a musician.
You accomplish that a lot, and other people know you for a lot of completely different causes, however the place does music align together with your total world?
In my childhood period, I’d at all times consider, “I believe I’m gonna be a well-known individual, however I don’t assume that I may very well be a musician.” However the first time individuals received to know me was within the survival present Excessive College Rapper 3 [in 2019]. At the moment, rap was the one factor I used to be competent in any kind of musical expertise, however I didn’t essentially need to be solely a rapper.
Did you discover your confidence to pursue music by way of rapping?
Sure, however I don’t assume that it’s my solely expertise. Rapping undoubtedly requires expertise, however I don’t assume that’s all I’ve. So, after I gained the rap survival present, I used to be at all times considering, “Oh, so is ‘rapper’ my job now?” I didn’t need to begin my profession as a rapper. I mentioned, “Oh, I received [to show] greater than rapping.” However it was my finest expertise, so I used to be at all times curious…
Is that why we solely received your first album 5 years after Excessive College Rapper? You share quite a lot of completely different sides and kinds on the file. What’s your favourite tune?
Yep, yep. And never as a result of that tune received a lot fame, however I finally actually liked “Small Woman.” It’s an sincere, sincere, sincere tune; an actual story about myself. I really like these sorts of songs. There are some tall, tall women…ah, how ought to I say this? Everybody has part of themselves that they lack confidence in, however this tune can actually soften that complicated. I believed that “Small Woman” was a tune I might make for everybody to be extra assured. So, I actually cherish “Small Woman” as a tune that I made for everybody who may need decrease or may not have self-confidence.
Considered one of my favorites is “ADHD Woman” as a result of I even have ADHD. What impressed this tune?
Ever since childhood, I’ve been listening to lots of people, like my lecturers and my mother and father, saying that I’ve ADHD — and that was earlier than many individuals grew to become actually conscious of it. However I’ve quite a lot of buddies round me who do have ADHD and take treatment for it. It’s a tune I wrote based mostly on my experiences in addition to my buddies’ experiences, a few of them who’re actually scuffling with ADHD.
What’s your songwriting or artistic course of?
Effectively, there may be quite a lot of nice know-how and stuff for music as of late, ? However I really like iPhone and iPhone memos. I’m at all times recording on my iPhone: a bit of gibberish, little unknown sounds, guides for songs. I at all times write key phrases with my iPhone. Really, that was the precise course of for the tune “Not Sorry.” After I went by way of the competitors present, Present Me the Cash, I suffered rather a lot from this hate prepare. So, I wrote on my iPhone that mentioned, “Not sorry, not sorry in any respect,” and I requested my producers — Jay Park, Zion.T and Slom — I requested them, “What about this topic for the title of this tune” and so they had been like, “Oh, that’s dope and that’s one thing you are able to do proper now.” My music-making course of is at all times, at all times like that. I write a title on my cellphone and I do a gibberish recording.
And “Not Sorry” was successful!
[Laughs] Yeah!
I’ve at all times appreciated your perspective. I’m certain it’s not simple for you, or anybody, however you might have a refreshing perspective about criticism and “hate feedback.” We even noticed your “liking” tweets which have criticized you. How do you retain this robust mindset?
After I get hate, I attempt to perceive them. “Why do you hate me?” “Oh, due to that time?” “Okay, I perceive that — however I don’t agree in any respect.” I can perceive you, however I don’t should agree with you. I at all times take into consideration how no person is aware of me higher than me. So, after I “like” [hate comments] — I actually don’t understand how the web system works — however I don’t care until I do one thing that’s actually a foul factor or crosses the road legally. I additionally reply [to] them after they ship me DMs that say, “I hate you, go kill your self” or one thing. I at all times reply to them and at all times like their messages as a result of they by no means assume that in the event that they ship me a message, I can see them; they don’t know that I can see them. So I need to allow them to know that I see every little thing.
So, what are you making ready for the U.S. leg of your All or Nothing Tour?
I at all times hoped that if I had an opportunity, I need to meet everybody on this planet and music is my likelihood. So, sure, I needed to make use of this as my alternative. I’ve already toured Asia, however what? The temper is sort of completely different in comparison with America. My efficiency [style] is normally to get individuals loopy. On this tour, I particularly need to have extra direct communication with the viewers and to introduce who I’m, that I make this sort of music, and that I introduce myself as an artist to the U.S. audiences. In comparison with Asia, there’s extra participation within the U.S., whereas direct communication is decrease in different nations. I made quite a lot of adjustments to my songs. I’m planning to carry the viewers as much as the stage really, and possibly dance or carry out collectively; I’m making an attempt to plan these sort of issues.
Such as you mentioned, you’re not simply identified for music however on your character too. Are you making ready enjoyable methods to share that aspect of your self too?
I believe that my character exhibits up whereas I’m speaking with one other individual. So, I are inclined to attempt to actually talk with the viewers, ask them questions, simply attempt to speak to them. And I believe that U. S. followers are going to love that rather a lot. I actually need to drink with them. I imply, I actually need to get drunk with them, however I can’t. [Laughs]
Possibly we are able to take a secret shot collectively because the tour’s final present is in New York…
HA ha. I hope so! [Laughs]
However I do need to spotlight how, in your 5 years since Excessive College Rapper, you’ve performed a ton of collaborations throughout many genres: Ok-pop idols, rappers, indie musicians, R&B, older technology artists, chart-topping artists. How do you join with so many various sounds and kinds?
I’m so grateful that they at all times attain [out] to me and ask me to characteristic with them or collaborate. I’ve been actually energetic with video and media contents in Korea for 4, 5 years now and, fortunately, that’s proven my character and expertise in Korea and to audiences. So, I believe quite a lot of artists really feel like I’m somebody who’s acquainted and for them to achieve out and join with me to do different initiatives. However anytime after I get requested for a characteristic, I at all times assume, “How can I beat them on this tune? How can I do higher on this tune?” [Laughs] However options and collaborating actually pressure me to go to the subsequent degree of myself.
I believe that’s what Nicki Minaj mentioned. She wants a “sparring associate” to degree herself up.
She’s my aim.
Are there any final messages for followers or what to anticipate on the U.S. tour? And with Nothing A lot Ready‘s return, are you able to share some spoilers?
Effectively, sure, I may give you quite a lot of spoilers, however the primary episode is with Lisa and she or he’s so sensible, fairly, younger, wealthy, and a hilarious individual. I really like her. As of mid-August, I already recorded, like, six or seven episodes so we’re going to see quite a lot of idols and quite a lot of actors.
However what else ought to I say? I believe U.S. followers should not ready for what’s coming to them! I need to promise to the U.S. followers that I shall be working laborious to have the ability to see them extra usually. I even have quite a lot of songs able to be launched, and I need to watch U.S. followers react. I’ve received an extended approach to go. This tour is just not even step one. I’ve large ambitions.